Retirement was something many aspired to, but damn few ninja ever reached it. Most ninja died long before then.
When the Kyubi attack took place, a number of those elderly died because they just weren't as fast as they had once been.
A change in the past was made. One that died in that attack, now survived.
Actually, there was more than one survivor when a tail lashing out failed to destroy the formerly ill-fated Team Urufu Barbeque Reunion marking their mutual retirement from active shinobi life.
Team Urufu
Urufu Inuzume, jonin-sensei.
Rokumaru, current dog partner to Urufu.
Shiba Yamano, kunoichi specializing in Earth Release
Kazuhiko Shimamura, chunin tailor
Koichi Morikubo, chunin chef
In the grand scheme of things, five individuals not dying at a specific time and place was of little consequence. Particularly when the Inuzume branch family of the Inuzuka was all but extinct anyway. Particularly when the kunoichi in question could no longer shape chakra. Especially when one considered Kazuhiko's inability to walk without a cane or Koichi's failing eyesight.
It wasn't much to work with, Toltiir knew, but he had worked with less before.
"Huh. It's that kid."
"Yeah. That one. Looks like he's been in a fight."
"At that age? Boys always getting in fights. Why I remember one time-"
"You're too old to remember when you were that age."
"So what do we do with him?"
"I HAVE A NAME! NARUTO UZUMAKI!"
"Right. Right. Uzumaki. You suppose?"
"Nah, if he had red hair. Maybe."
"I'M STILL HERE! DATTEBAYO!"
"Kid, not so loud. We're old folks here. We got delicate nerves and stuff."
"I'll say. Come on kid, I'll clean up them scrapes."
"Huh? Wait. You're not running me off?"
"Nope. Just don't prank us, will ya? My arthritis is acting up, don't need the hassle of repainting anything."
"Uh. Yeah. Okay."
Not the most auspicious of meetings. Could have gone worse though. Could have gone a lot worse.
Maybe.
"Hey it's Uzumaki. C'mere kid. I could use a hand here."
"Wha? Whatcha doin'?"
"Barbeque. You keep an eye on the meat, flip 'em over when I tell ya to. Use this fork here. Think you're up to it?"
"Smells good."
"Well, I'll put a couple extra pieces on for you as payment. Can you handle that?"
"You got it! Dattebayo!"
"Huh. Maybe you ARE Kushina's kid. She used to do something like that too."
"Like what?"
"Never mind, Uzumaki. Never you mind."
"Hey, Ojiisan!"
"Hush! Quiet, boy! Now come here."
"Whoa. Puppies?"
"Yeah, I'm an Inuzume, last of my line. We, well I, were a minor branch family of the Inuzuka."
"Oh, Kiba's clan?"
"Ah, yeah. That we are, or were I suppose. Pups are going to the main family soon as they're weaned. Not like I can take care of 'em."
"Huh. Oh what's wrong with that one?"
"Sometimes they're just born wrong or sickly. I don't expect that one to make it."
"You can't just give up on him!"
"Her."
"Well, you can't just give up on her! Dattebayo!"
"In that case, YOU take care of her. I'll show you how to make the formula since she's so weak the others are just gonna crowd her out."
"I'll take care of her and show ALL of you! I never give up! Dattebayo!"
Toltiir cocked his head at that. Not anything he'd intended but sometimes the universe seemed to appreciate irony.
Yeah. Pretty much what he expected.
"Well, you got a pocket puppy there Naruto."
"Uhm, yeah. She seems to like being up against me."
"Yeah, some dogs are like that. They like the body warmth and reminder they're not alone or something. Never asked. Now are you ready for shuriken practice? Let's see what you got."
"THERE! See! I almost hit the target!"
"Uhm. Right. Naruto? Who taught you to throw?"
"Mizuki-sensei!"
"Well, 'Mizuki-sensei' deserves a swat on the nose. Let me show you how it's done."
"You old codger! You're gonna screw him up even worse than he already is."
"Oh? You can do better Koichi?"
"Hah. Stand back, youngster and watch an expert do it!"
"Dang. Wasn't she able to fit into one of his pockets just a little while ago?"
"Naruto? Tell Koichi what you named her."
"Interceptor!"
"ARF!"
"Uhm, why 'Interceptor'? One-who-intercepts? Intercepts what?"
"Interceptor! Catch!"
"Holy shinobi."
"At a year old too. She's gonna be something else."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up. "Ah. Team Urufu."
"Hokage, sir," said Urufu Inuzuma. "What's this about?"
"My ANBU have told me that you've befriended Naruto," said Hiruzen.
"Can you tell me something, sir?" asked Urufu. "That's Kushina's kid, ain't he?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked them over, then nodded once.
"I knew it!" said Urufu.
"So, is there a problem, sir?" asked Shiba.
"That's what I wanted to find out," said the Hokage. "He has a dog belonging to the Inuzuka clan?"
"Not the Inuzuka clan. Inuzuma. My clan. Even though I'm technically of a branch family of the Inuzuka. She was born sickly, sir," said Urufu. "Would have been one of those that didn't make it. I told him how to care for her and what medicines to make, but didn't have time to do any of that myself. Well, and I'm getting a bit on in years."
"The years do have a way of catching up with us," admitted the Hokage. "The Inuzuka clan has petitioned that Naruto has property of theirs that should be returned to them."
"She's of the Inuzuma line sir, not the Inuzuka. And he came by her fair and square, it's not like he stole her or anything." Urufu knew the charter pretty much allowed clan business to remain clan business. Inuzuma being a near-extinct branch family of the Inuzuka that split off prior to Konohagakure's formation made the whole thing a bit tricky.
"Your dog died recently, and so did one of your team? An intruder of some kind?" asked Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Yessir. Rokumaru was pretty old though. Kazuhiko came to visit, apparently surprised the intruder." Urufu shifted uncomfortably. "No evidence it was anything else."
"Ah, so you DO suspect something?" asked the Hokage.
"Begging the Hokage's pardon, sir, but someone of my status making claims of someone who's up there in power a bit? I'd need some pretty good evidence not to get swatted down," said Urufu. "You know that kinda thing."
"If you come across any of that 'pretty good evidence' - I would appreciate knowing about it," indicated the Hokage.
"I'm still looking, sir." Urufu nodded. "Team's important. Person goes messing with your team, they're messing with all of ya."
Interceptor whined as she looked over the corpse.
Naruto stared at the body for awhile as if he couldn't believe it, then up at the Hokage.
"Both of them were killed, but there wasn't enough left of Shiba to do anything other than identify her," said the Hokage. "They left you a few personal effects. Those will be delivered later."
"Someone did this," said Naruto softly.
"Someone with a lot of secrets didn't want them uncovered," admitted the Hokage. "There is a suspect in custody, but I strongly suspect they were framed as a convenient target."
"Huh," said Naruto softly. "Jiji. I need some training."
"I can't do anything there for you, Naruto," said the Hokage. "It wouldn't be fair to the other students to give you special training."
"Not me. Interceptor."
"You're going to turn her over to the Inuzuka after all?" asked Hiruzen, a little surprised.
"It'd be safer for her and they can train her properly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took his pipe out of his mouth, regarded Naruto carefully, then nodded.
Iruka Umino looked over the class, feeling that odd conflict that was common to teachers who actually cared about their job and their students. Particularly when the career track included the word 'ninja' in it.
He could take comfort in that he'd prepared them as best he could while sticking to the guidelines handed down from the committee and not interfering with clan protocols or the assignments of other teachers. Yes, it was a series of compromises but it worked better than earlier systems.
He also knew that many of those graduating would return to the Academy for the Remedial Classes. Of those returning students, most would end up washing out of the program altogether and become civilians.
Of this graduating class, six were of established clans which had specialized jutsu: Aburame, Akimichi, Hyuga, Inuzuka, Nara, Uchiha, Yamanaka. The remainder were either orphans or had no established ninja clan to pass on extra training and techniques to their members.
Some didn't have a clan but had teachers outside the Academy anyway. He knew that Tobio had learned some Earth Release techniques from a Grand-Aunt who'd been a kunoichi in her youth and was now unable to muster the chakra to pull off even simple techniques.
Then there was Naruto Uzumaki, who'd been taught the skills of a ninja-ranger. Tracking, survival, stealth, and weapons. From what Iruka had heard - Naruto had pranked the wrong person once, or absolutely the RIGHT person as the prank had failed and Old Urufu had then reamed Naruto over all the things he'd done wrong. Naruto had responded by taking it as a challenge and had begun learning.
Now though, it came to sorting. He wondered how many would pass the secret test and how many would be back for remedial classes and further training.
"Team 7. Jonin will be Kakashi Hatake. Sasuke Uchiha, rookie of the year. Top kunoichi - Sakura Haruno."
"YES!"
"And least academic - Ami Suuri."
"WHAT?!"
Everyone looked at Sasuke, who'd risen up with that objection. And who looked paler than normal. Sakura didn't look happy either. Ami, on the other hand, looked smug.
"Team 8. Jonin is Kurenai Yuhi. Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame."
"Wait, why do I have to have AMI on my team?" asked Sakura. "Isn't it usual to pair two boys with a girl for a team?"
"That's typically how it works out, but the last place on overall grades this year was Ami," said Iruka. "She barely managed to graduate."
"Fate!" declared Ami. "It was fated to be so that I would end up on Sasuke's team!"
"No, actually, it was because the only thing you showed any talent for was budgeting and accountancy," said Iruka. "Which is useful for anyone, but not something typically used on ninja missions."
"Now that I'm out of the Academy, I will surprise all of you!" declared Ami.
Kiba snorted for no apparent reason. Akamaru shook his head.
"Team 9 is still in use from last year, Team 10 - your jonin is Asuma Sarutobi. Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi."
"What a drag. Such a loud person on my team."
"WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"
"Case in point."
Naruto adjusted his mask and hood, effectively covering most of him, and waited.
A hunter had to learn patience, it was part of the job description.
Finally his assigned superior made an appearance.
While Naruto thought he could have made an excellent choice for one of the three man teams, someone in the chain-of-command had apparently come up with a different idea.
Apprenticeship. Instead of a three-man genin squad, he'd be working with someone of similar or complimentary skills and learning from them as they performed their regular duties.
It was unusual, but due to his skillset - it was deemed a more efficient manner of things.
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(Posted Sun, 25 Aug 2013 16:59)
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